Paris Haute Couture Week just finished. There was a lot going on – shows, presentations, art events – and honestly, it felt like the whole city was vibrating with creativity.
But the two moments that stayed with us the most were the show by Mariano Moreno and the Paris debut of Nour Muhtaseb.
Mariano Moreno – January 25
On January 25, Mariano Moreno presented his new Haute Couture collection at the legendary Lapérouse restaurant. The venue was incredible – intimate, a little mysterious, and full of history, especially those famous scratched mirrors that set such a dramatic mood.
The collection was inspired by Baudelaire’s Les Fleurs du Mal – dark, poetic, sensual, and deeply emotional. Instead of pretty, delicate flowers, Moreno showed something raw, intense, and unforgettable.
The beauty direction was shaped by Yulia Dovzhanyn (Julia Fox), Visual Makeup Director, who developed the visual moodboards that guided the makeup team in creating the runway looks and maintaining a consistent visual line throughout the presentation.
Hair references were developed by international hairstylist Alina Kuznevych, who adapted the looks to the unconventional staging of the show.
Nour Muhtaseb – January 27
On January 27, Nour Muhtaseb showed in Paris for the first time during Haute Couture Week.
The collection, “The Tapestry of Time,” was inspired by historic embroidery and traditional craftsmanship, but felt very modern in shape and silhouette.
At the center of the show was the woman. You could really feel that Nour designs for women she understands and loves – the draping was soft, natural, and incredibly emotional to watch.
Hair references were created by top stylist Alona Ksenofontova, with clean, sculptural lines that worked beautifully with the dresses.
Makeup references were developed together with Solomiia Romaniuk, a specialist in brow art and facial aesthetics. The final makeup was executed by the Godina Team, led by Olga Godina, creating a polished and unified look across all models.
Production
Both shows were produced by 12|11, the studio led by creative director Ruslan Ev, in collaboration with co-producer Valentina Varnavskaia.
Exhibition – “La créativité sans limites / Creativity Without Borders”
On the same day, Maison de l’Amérique Latine hosted the opening of the exhibition “La créativité sans limites / Creativity Without Borders.”
Curated by Anna Sashina, the exhibition brought together artists and fashion photographers from around the world, turning the venue into a space where art and fashion truly met.
Artists featured included:
Victoria Shchelkunova – A fashion photographer based in Moldova known for her collaborations with numerous fashion brands, where fashion becomes a medium for personal identity and self-expression.
Dana Ozova – A Ukrainian fashion artist whose work blurs the lines between fine art and fashion, describing fashion not as an object but as a language of color and texture.
Natalia Sviderskaya – An Italian-based artist and designer of a women’s footwear brand Caleste whose self-described “Emotional Impressionism” bridges classical technique with modern artistic currents.
Sergio Durante – an Italian-based artist exploring the expressive potential of recycled carbon fiber, a material associated with aerospace and motorsport.
Arthur Midianga – A Kenyan-American expressionist based in Brooklyn, NY, whose work connects historical memory with contemporary forms and has been exhibited in major cities including New York, Barcelona, Miami, Kansas City, and Paris.
Karinne Grimaud – A French contemporary abstract painter with a global exhibition history including, emphasizing emotional resonance as the core of abstract art.
Denis Popoff – A Swiss-based photographer whose striking work focuses on the human form as well as stage and backstage narratives; his photographs have been shown widely across Europe and at Art Basel.
The opening gathered collectors, creatives, fashion people, and art lovers from many countries – and felt like a real cultural meeting point in the heart of Paris.
